Track-brake.



Patented Aug. 6, I90l.

' a. sum.

TRACK BRAKE.

(Application filed May 6, 1901.)

(No Model.)

In. 2/ n z UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JOHN GILLAM SMITH, OF C ARTHAGE, TENNESSEE.

TRACK-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,180, dated August 6, 1901. Application filed May 6, 1901 Serial No. 5&985. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHNGILLAM SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarthage, in the county of Smith and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and use-- ful Improvements in Track-Brakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car-braking mechanism, but more particularly to trackbrakes, and has for its object to provide a device of this class which will uniformly brake any form of rolling-stock.

A further object of my invention is to provide a railroad-brake which acts on the tracks, thereby saving the wheels from the wear and tear occasioned by contact with the ordinary brake-shoes now in universal use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a track-brake which is operated by hand, atmospheric or air pressure, and which is constructed so that the brake-shoes will conform to any irregularity or unevenness of the rails.

With all these objects in view my invention consists in the novel arrangement of a track-braking apparatus.

My invention also consists in my novel equalizing arrangement and in attaching my brake-shoes and also in certain other novel features of construction and in combination of parts, which will be hereinafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation ofa car-truck provided with my track-brake. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of truck-bolsters, showing the application of my invention. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same, the springs and upper bolster being broken away. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of my improved brake-shoe, showing method of attaching same.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in whichi y 1 and 2 are the truck-bolsters; and 3 the truck-frame.

4 shows the brake-rod, connected to a bell crank 5, pivoted to a bracket or hanger 6 of suitable size and stability.

7 is a connecting-rod secured to the center of an equalizing-lever 8. Secured to the ends of saidequalizing-lever are two connectingrods 9 and 10, which are secured to the inner ends of two brake-shoe-operating levers 11 and 12. Said brake-shoe-operating levers 11 and 12 are fulerumed at their centers to the lower truck-bolsters 2 in any substantial manner, the fulcruins 13 being permanently secured to said levers, so that they revolve as said levers are raised andlowered and extend across the top of the lower bolster 2. Permanently secured to the opposite end of said f ulcrums 13 and behind the lower bolster 2 are two cranks 14 and 15, being the same length as half of the brake-shoe-operating levers 12 and 13. Said cranks andbrake-shoe-operating levers are connected to my dovetailed brakeshoe stay-plates 14 by means of the connecting-rods 15, and said dovetailed brake-shoe stay-plates are secured to a brake-beam 16, which is carried within and guided by guides or yokes at the bottom of the truck-frame in any substantial manner.

18 indicates the brake-shoes, havinga longitudinal dovetailed groove 19 in the tops thereof and a transverse groove 20 in said tops. The dovetailed brake-shoe stay-plates 14 are also provided with a transverse groove 21, similar to said groove 19. The brake-shoes 18 are slid on the dovetailed brake-shoe stayplates, the dovetail of said plates fitting into the dovetailed groove in the brake-shoes until the transverse groove 20 registers with the transverse groove 21 in the stay-plates. A key 22 is then inserted into said grooves from the inside of the brake-shoes and extends through said brake-shoes and stay-plates, as shown in Fig. 4, thus securely holding the brake-shoes to the brake-beam and providing a very simple and efficient arrangement and rendering the detaching and replacing of the brake-shoes a very easy matter.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention, I will now more specifically set forth my equalizing arrangement.

A track-brake is impractical so long as there is-any unevenness in the rails and so long as said track-brake will not yield to the defects in the track. It is for the purposeof causing my brake-shoes to conform to any variation in height of the tracks that I have provided my equalizing-lever and it can be clearlyseen by referring to the drawings that either brake-shoe can raise or lower with its track independently of the other brake-shoe, and thus follow the tracks and provide a steady and uniform brake and not an uneven and jerking brake, which is so objectionable and so disastrous to the rolling-stock.

Secured to the bell-crank 5 and bracket or a,

hanger 6 is a spiral spring or pair of springs 23, which always throws the brake-shoes out of engagement with the tracks when the air is off.

Having thus specifically described my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the'exact construction herein set forth, as various slight changes might be made therein which would fall within the limit and scope of my invention, and I consider myself entitled to all such changes and modifications.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a track-brake, the combination with a truck and frame, of a guide or yoke at the bottom thereof, a brake-beam carried thereon, brake-shoes secured to said beam, brake= shoe-operatinglevers,an equalizing-leven'and means for operating the same,-substantially as described.

2. In a track-brake, the combination with shoes to the brake-beam substantialy as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses JOHN GILLAM SMITH.

Witnessesi JNo. R. AUs'r, t BEN. S. READ. 

